An Eight-wheeler Added to the Leyland Range
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ANeight-wheeled chassis, designated the Octopus, has been added to the range of heavy goods vehicles marketed by Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancs. The design of this new vehicle is based on that of the Hippo six-wheeler, with an additional axle increasing the permissible gross laden weight to 22 tons, instead of the 19 tons allowed for the three-axle machine. The weight of the additional axle and steering gear approximates to 12 cwt. The vehicle is permitted by law to travel at 20 m.p.h., and has a load capacity which is approximately 2 tons 8 cwt. in excess of that of the corresponding Hippo models.
Both long-wheelbase and short, wheelbase chassis are offered, and each is available with either the double drive or trailing axle, and with an oil or petrol engine. The short-wheelbase is24 model (14 ft. 3 ins.) is particularly useful as a tipping vehicle, as it permits the use of a heavy-duty gear and body for dealing with loads up to 13 tons.
The chassis, with an 18-ft. 10-in. wheelbase, has been designed to meet long-distance haulage requirements. On this model a body length of 24 ft. 6 ins, is obtainable, thus allowing full advantage to be taken of the maximum legal gross load.
The new chassis differs from the Hippo mainly in respect of the additional axle and a heavy-duty gearbox, the latter being designed to give a range of ratios suitable for the increased load without it being necessary to use an auxiliary gearbox.
The chassis has 42-in. by 9-in. tyres on the wheels on the front axles and 13.50-20-in. tyres on those at the rear.
The steering layout for the second front axle is quite straightforward. It consists in the use of a drop arm from the steering box in which there are two ball pins, one being coupled by a short rod to the front-axle steering, and the other by a longer rod to a relay lever, fulcrumed to the frame, from which another short rod is carried to the steering arm on the second axle.
The prices of the new eight-wheeler, when equipped with a petrol engine, are as follow : —Short-wheelbase model, trailing axle, £1,225; double drive, £1,325. Long-wheelbase model, trailing axle, £1,250; double drive, £1,350. In each case the use of an oil engine adds 2150 to the price.